Slow Bacon: Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Convivium

Gathered under the towering fir trees and nestled against the coast, we celebrated the return of a pure Tamworth breeding pair with a pig roast at Still Meadow Farm in Metchosin on Southern Vancouver Island. Setting tables with sunflowers and dahlias, we sat on blanket-covered hay bales and got to know neighbours, winemakers, bakers, farmers, foragers and so many other fascinating people who are drawn to good, clean and fair food.

Tending to the roasting pig throughout the entire night, Chef Cory Pelan and his wife Madone, camped out to ensure a perfectly succulent nose to tail experience. Chef Pelan received the BC Food Hero recognition at this year’s National Meeting in Osoyoos, in part for his commitment to locally sourced ingredients for his salumeria, The Whole Beast. His long-standing relationship with Farmer Tom Henry meant that the time and energy needed to cultivate a pure Tamworth breeding pair would be worth it, as The Whole Beast would buy all the heritage pigs. After 17 hours of mesmerizing rotisserie, the 133 lb pig was ready to be carved by Chef Pelan and Chef Chad Moss of Shovel & Fork and the Edmonton convivium.

Our convivium spans a huge geographic region, and the event brought together Slow Food members from Victoria, Sooke, the Cowichan Valley and Saturna Island, but also as far away as Israel, Paris and Holland. Guests were invited to bring salads, side dishes and desserts to accompany the spit roasted pig, and it was a true reflection of the season with an incredible array of ingredients pulled that day from people’s gardens, greenhouses, and favourite farms. The myriad colours of the buffet led to another long table of desserts complete with apple sauce and poached figs to accompany the lean Tamworth pork. Everyone brought coolers filled with the best of BC wines and our treasurer, Kyle Hunker, made golden and crisp Red Fife wheat ale for the occasion.

It was a true Slow Food experience: good people sharing great food in a beautiful setting.